Trap



March 13, 1934. B. M. BROWNELL TRAP Filed July 23, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l Borne/Worse Wron /26% 54 March 13, 1934. B. M. BROWNELL TRAP 3 I l M w m NWWMTIH M; v kw/ I m \w x x l x -m 4 .V/MFM a; m .m /|u.

Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAP Application July 23, 1931, Serial No. 552,614

3 Claims. (01. 137-103) This invention relates to improvements in traps; and consists in the novel construction hereinafter disclosed. An object of the invention isto provide an improved trap whereby condensation from a steam system or other liquid is accumulated and period ically discharged without interrupting the operation of the system in which it is connected. Another object of the invention is to provide l a trunnion mounting for the liquid accumulating tank whereby the liquid may pass to the tankand be discharged therefrom through the trunnion connection, together with means for packing the V inlet and outlet passages from the tank.

Additional advantages of the construction will be apparent from the following detailed descrip: tion, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating the water 5 side of the trap in filling position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view'of the trunnion connection for the tank, showing the inlet-outlet connection therefrom to the tank in section.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the tank in filling a position, illustrating its association with the trunnion connection.

Fig. 4 is a view partially in section of the trunnion connection shown in the same position as in Fig. 3. w

A Fig. 5 is a detail end view of the gasket spring support and end plate. I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the trunnion support.

Fig. 7 is an edge view of the gasket spring seat and end plate.

Inasmuch as the invention does not reside in the construction of the trap generally, but resides in the novel form of trunnion support and the packing therefor, it will be sumci'ent to describe the elements of the trap proper and their general mode of operation, without considering the construction in detail.

Broadly, traps of this general type, whether of thespecific return or separating class, include a base 1 which supports at one side a casing 2, forming an inlet chamber, and at the opposite side a casing 3 constituting an outlet chamber. The casings 2 and 3 are, therefore, stationary with the base 1 of the trap.

The trap also includes a central fitting 4 having an inlet passage 5 and an outlet passage 6 formed therein. The fitting 4 is'provided with a flange 7 and is connected in sealed relation with .La vertical connection 8 to the 'tank'9. The con'-' nection 8 has a flange 10 on its lower extremity and a flange 11 on its upper extremity. The flange 10 is bolted to the flange '7 of the fitting 4 and the flange .11 is bolted to a hollow boss 12 1 connected into the bottom of the tank 9 at a point offset from the center in respect of the longitudinal dimension of the tank. The connection 8 has a branch conduit 13 that extends upwardly in an inclined direction and is provided at its extremitywith a flange 14 that is bolted to a boss 15 connected .into the bottom of the tank near one endjthereof. The vertical connec tion 8 and the branch 13 form together a Y-fitting for the inlet and discharge of liquid to and from the tank. A standpipe 16' extends upwardly within the vertical connection 8 and connects with the inlet chamber of'the fitting 4. The standpipe'lfi is of a suflicient' length so that it opens near the top of the tank. The t-ank9 is exteriorly' provided with acounterweight construction which comprises a'stand ard 17, to the upper end of which a rod 18 ispiv oted, said rod being .connectedwith the wall of the tank by a bracket 19 andcar'rying' near its opposite end a coiunterweight20. On the. 'opf posite sidejof the tank is 'a bracket 21 to which" a weighted lever system 22 is connected and whereby the stem '23 of thewater' outletvalve is operated. At one end of the tank'a rod 24 carrying a springbumper element 25 acts asa re 8i I silient stop for thetank whenit tiltsbygravitywhenfilled to a degree to overcome 'the countere weight adjustmeht. The tank. is provided with a vent valve 26 through'thewall thereof.

The elements above described areof known construction, and it will beunderstood that they generally "function in the following manner:

The condensateenters through the inlet chamber casing 2 and passes by a conduit to the inlet chamber 5 of the fitting 4, and theme by the standpipe into the tank, during which period the position of the tank maintains the outlet valve from the outlet chamber casing 3 closed. when" the tank is filled with the accumulated. condensate or liquid, the tank tilts, which operation opens the outlet valve, and the liquid flows into the outlet chamber 6 of. the fitting 4 and thence through a connection to. the outlet chamber 'casing 3, andis discharged either to waste or to a return pipe in the system. a x 1 t H Y I,

The improvement of the present invention re-, sidesin the improved construction of the trunnionz; connection'having the inlet and outlet passages from the ca'singsZ. and,3 to and from the fitting. 7.;- 4. The construction with which the invention is 110 particularly concerned will now be referred to in more detail.

The inlet and outlet trunnion connections are substantial duplicates in construction, so that 5 reference to one will be illustrative of the construction of the other. the drawings, the details have been shown with particular reference to the inlet side of the trunnion connection, so that reference will be made thereto with the understanding that the construction is duplicated in respect to the trunnion connection with the chamber casing 3. The construction of the inlet and outlet chamber casings is an improved form. Referring now particularly to the construction of the chamber casing 2, it will be noted that the casing comprises a cylindrical casting having a chamber 27 therein. Extending inwardly into the chamber 27 is an annular boss 28 forming a cylindrical inner wall 29 that merges into an inclined wall 30. A cylindrical extension 31 of the casing 2 projects exteriorly inwardly therefrom, the internal wall of which meets the inclined wall 30 in integral continuation thereof. The portion 31 of the casing 2 forms a bearing for a cylindrical connecting conduit 32 from the chamber 27. The

member 32 is formed with a flange 33 and a nipple extension 34. The nipple 34 extends through a side opening in the fitting 4, and the flange 33 matches a cylindrical boss 35 on the fitting 4.

Bolts 36 serve to connect the member 32 with the fitting 4, it being understood that a tight joint is formed at this connection by a gasket 37. The member 32 is also provided with an annular flange 38 that abuts against the end of the 7 extension 31 of the inlet chamber casing 2. The

- outer end of the member 32 extends inwardly into the chamber 27, terminating in a plane substantially flush with the inner end of the boss 28. The outer face of the member 32 is cut away near its outer extremity to form a cylindrical wall 39 and an inclined wall 40. The walls 29, 30, 39 and- 40 form a cavity which is substantially V-shaped at its apex with a cylindrical extension.

Since the member 32 rocks with the movement of the tank 9, and the inlet casing 2 and its integral parts are stationary, the joint between the members 31 and 32 is a swinging joint, which is difficult to pack without causing a high friction factor. The packing employed in the present construction is eificient with a low friction factor. The packing includes a gasket 41 of an outside contour corresponding to the cavity formed by the walls 29, 30, 39 and 40. The gasket 41 has a cavity in its end wall, the edgesof which incline outwardly. An annular follow plate 42 with inwardly inclined walls seat against the internal inclined walls of the gasket. The follow plate 42, when actuated in contact with the gasket, constitutes a spreader for forcing the walls of the gasket tightly against the cavity formed by the adjacent walls 29, 30, 39 and 40. The follow plate 42 is actuated by an expansion spring 43, the inner end of which bears against the outer face of the follow plate 42.

In order to provide access to the chamber 27 in a convenient position for adjusting and replacing the gasket member, the casing 2 is provided with a circular opening into which a combination spring support and cover plate projects. The cover plate consists of a fiat rectangular base section 44 having a series of ribs 45 formed on its inner face. The ribs 45 project into the opening in the casing 2, and the plate is bolted to the walls of the casing with an interposed gasket 46 between the plate and the edges of the opening.

The ribs 45 have projections 47 which constitute a seat and guide for the spring, the end of the spring bearing against the inner face of the ribs 45. There is thus a passageway provided between the ribs 45 for the fiow of the fluid from the chamber 27 into the opening through the member 32. The ribs 45 with the projections 47 form together a spider constituting an arbor for the support of the spring and, at the same time, providing passageway for the fluid.

Since the plate 44 may be readily removed, the parts of the sealing construction may be readily adjusted or parts thereof replaced without disturbingthe relationship of the other parts of the trunnion support.

The condensate or other fluid is admitted to the chamber 27 through an opening 48, and passes through the passageway between the ribs 45 and into the conduit in the member 32, and thence through the chamber 5 of the fitting 4 and standpipe 16 to the tank 9. When the accumulation of liquid in the tank 9 is sufiicient to tilt the same, the outlet valve is open, and the accumulated liquid flows from the tank through the vertical connection 8 and into the outlet chamber 6 of the fitting 4, thence through the part corresponding to the part 32 on the outlet side of the trunnion connection and into the outlet chamber corresponding to the chamber 27, and thence from the trunnion connection through the discharge pipe 49.

Since the construction is required to accommodate the passage of hot condensate and steam and operates on frequent intervals, the problem of packing the joints between the stationary inlet and outlet chamber casings and the swinging trunnion connection has been a difiicult one. This problem has been solved by the construction hereinbefore described, which permits of the operation of the device with a low friction factor and without the escape of fluid from the apparatus.

I am aware that the invention may be modified in certain particulars without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a trap of the class described, a base plate, stationary inlet and outlet chamber casings, removable plates connected to said casings, swivel conduit connections mounted in said casings in axial alinement with said removable plates, respectively, an intermediate fitting between said swivel conduit connections, a'tank supported by said intermediate fitting, a gasket in each of said casings for sealing the joints of the swivel conduit connections respectively, a spring for pressing the gasket to sealing position, and means having passageways therethrough from said chamber casings to said swivel conduit connections, said means supporting one end of said spring.

2. In traps of the class described, the combination with an accumulating tank, liquid inlet and outlet fittings having conduits therein and arranged horizontally below the tank, said fittings being each provided at its outer end with an angular gasket seat, and a separate vertical fitting between said first named fittings and the tank having conduits connecting the inner ends of the inlet and outlet conduits with the tank, of casings at the outer end of each of said inlet and outlet fittings respectively forming inlet and outlet chambers, said casings being each provided with an angular gasket seat'complementarily formed with respect to said first named gasket seat, a gasket positioned between said gasket seats, a removable head on the outer end of each of said casings, each of said heads being in axial prolongation of the outlet and inlet conduits respectively, a spring support carried by the inner face of each of said heads having passageways therethrough, and a spring carried by each of said supports and arranged to exert pressure against said gasket.

3. In a trap of the class described, the combination of a trunnion fitting having its inner end recessed to form one wall of a gasket seat, with a mounting for said fitting comprising a casing having one wall formed to provide a complementary wall for the gasket seat, an extension providing an elongated bearing for the trunnion fitting and another wall forming a chamber in communication with the trunnion fitting, a removable plate connected with said casing and diametrically opposite the opening in the trunnion fitting, a gasket in said gasket seat for sealing the joint between the trunnion fitting and said casing, a follow plate bearing against said gasket, a spring support including a series of spaced arms arranged to support one end of a spring, and an expansion spring bearing on said support at one end and against said follow plate at the opposite end for exerting pressure on said gasket.

BARNETT MORSE BROWNELL. 

